Can you archive / unarchive via scripting?

Question

Hello,

I'm not an experienced user/admin within OAS, so wanted to reach out ...

I know you can "move" reports from one environment to another via archive/unarchive.

Can you do this via scripting, or other procedure? We would like to setup a kind of backup procedure by archiving certain reports and dashboards in invidivual files, so we can restore them in case of need.

Thank you,

Gert

Gianni Ceresa · Answer

Note that runcat.sh utility is only available for on-line mode starting in OAS

Let say that offline mode is still fully there, it's just the catalog that isn't anymore on the filesystem and therefore it could sound like offline mode is pointless.

However, there are "documented" ways to extract a copy of the catalog offline (on disk), and therefore it's possible to work on it offline. Obviously, being an extract and not the "live" catalog itself, it can't be used to apply changes that should be directly available online in the tool (this would require to import it first), it's more for "read-only" activities (reports, analysis, audit etc.).

TetyanaH-Oracle · Answer

Concur with Gianni. If you use OAS, please take a look at the following MOS document that describes options to manage your catalog in OAS: What Are The Available Options To Manage The Catalog In Oracle Analytics Server (OAS)? (Doc ID 2724149.1) Note that runcat.sh utility is only available for on-line mode starting in OAS due to catalog is moved to the database file system on OAS, hence on-line mode only is supported. If you want to archive/unarchive individual reports/dashboards, then this is done via Catalog UI only. However, you can use command line option to archive/unarchive catalog folder(s) where your reports/dashboards reside. Please see usage information for the command line option by running: runcat.cmd -cmd -help (or runcat.sh -cmd -help) For example: runcat.sh -cmd archive -help Here is example of the command to archive a folder: ./runcat.sh -cmd archive -folder /shared/test -outputFile /refresh/home/mydata/test_folder.arch -online https://xxx:9503/analytics-ws/saw.dll -credentials /refresh/home/mydata/login.txt

Gianni Ceresa · Answer

Hi,

Of course you can do it via script.

You can look at calling Catalog Manager (the tool) by command line (runcat.cmd or runcat.sh) and you can do all you can do in the GUI and even more.

Or you can look into the available webservice: https://docs.oracle.com/middleware/1221/biee/BIEIT/methods.htm#i1009936 (it's an OBIEE 12c link, but the WSDL didn't change, same version, in OAS).

Keep in mind that both methods will enforce the security model you have in place: your user you use to login should have access to the objects you want to backup.

If you want to backup content without being limited by the security model you have in place, you should create a BAR (can also be done by command line with a script). Then you can either keep your BAR as it is, or take only the pieces of the catalog you are interested in and do what you have to do with them.